2/9/12

Dance with Me
By Madison Sonnier


Michael Sullivan bounced his leg up and down in annoyance as he scanned the crowd of students dancing, laughing, and showing off. Why had he let his dad talk him into going to prom? People spent tons of money on their “special night” and it only lasted for a few hours.

Michael watched as touchy-feely couples latched onto each other and girls wearing expensive dresses primped and gossiped by the chocolate fountain. He had come alone and politely waved off the flirty girls that approached him.

Michael was the line-backer for the school’s football team and was often asked out on dates and invited to parties. But he wasn’t much of a party-goer and he had strayed from any serious dating since breaking up with his first love during his sophomore year. Everyone at school seemed to label him as “popular” just because he was on the football team. He was on the football team because he loved sports, not because he was seeking any extra attention. Michael was snatched out of his thoughts when he heard a familiar voice.

“Hey Mike! Where’s your date?”

Michael looked up in time to see Erica White looming over him in a blinding neon orange prom dress and way too much make-up. She was flashing him her large, toothy grin and batting her eyelashes like some sort of CoverGirl model.

“I actually came alone,” Michael replied over the boom of the music.

“Wanna dance?” Erica asked, holding out her hand to Michael.

“No thanks. I’m not really sure why I came here, to be honest.”

Erica pushed out her lower lip and planted her manicured hands on her hips. “So you’re telling me that you’ve been sitting here like a loser all night?”

Michael smirked at her teasing tone and nodded his head. “Guilty.”

Erica rolled her eyes and held out her hand again. “Well, that’s about to change. Come on. My favorite song is on.”

Michael sighed as “Brick House” blared through the speakers.

“I hate this song,” he admitted.

“So you’re just gonna make me dance all by myself?” Erica pouted.

When Michael didn’t answer, Erica let out a frustrated sigh. “There has to be someone you find attractive enough to dance with, although I highly doubt she would look as good as me.”

Michael let out his own frustrated sigh. He was about to blow Erica off and leave the prom early, but before he could, he caught a glimpse of Samantha Rose sitting by herself on the other side of the gym.

Samantha was a socially withdrawn girl from his Chemistry class who was mercilessly teased and bullied. Michael had stood up for her a few times, but it was to no avail. Samantha was very bony and pale with dark circles under her eyes. She often mumbled to herself and occasionally wore thick glasses. She had frizzy brown hair that constantly hung down over her face and she was almost always seen with her nose in a book.

Michael had witnessed her being pushed around and made fun of more times than he could count. Samantha was defenseless against the bullies and would just hang her head and keep walking as they tormented her.

Michael couldn’t imagine why she would want to go to a high school prom, which many of her bullies were attending. Samantha was wearing a long, aqua-colored gown that fell down around her feet like a rain puddle. Her normally unruly brown hair was pulled back into an elegant bun. She was staring down into her lap, looking out of place and uncomfortable. Erica once again tore through Michael’s train of thought.

“The song is about to go off! Are you going to dance with me or not?” she quipped.

Michael ignored Erica and began making his way over to where Samantha was sitting. When Samantha saw him coming, she blushed and shifted nervously in her seat. Michael slowly sat down next to her.

“Hey,” he said gently.

Samantha sat stiffly turned away from him and didn’t answer. Michael patiently cleared his throat.

“Would you like to dance?” he asked.

Samantha shook her head and stayed silent.

“Oh, come on,” Michael teased. “Please?”

Samantha’s shoulders relaxed a little bit and she turned back around in her seat, but still avoided Michael’s gaze.

“Please dance with me. I’m having a lousy time,” Michael pleaded. He looked across the gym and noticed that Erica was gaping and narrowing her eyes at him. He ignored her and turned his attention back to Samantha as a romantic slow song began to leak through the speakers. Samantha shook her head and turned away again.

“Come on, Sam. I sat over there trying to work up the courage to ask you to dance and…You’re bruising my ego a little bit, you know that?”

Samantha turned to face Michael and he saw that she had tears in her eyes.

“Is this some kind of joke?” she asked with a shaky voice.

“Of course not,” Michael said gently. “I honestly want to dance with you.”

“No one’s ever asked me to dance before.”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything.” Michael smiled and extended his hand towards Samantha.

After a few moments of hesitation, Samantha took Michael’s hand and nervously followed him to the center of the dance floor. Students jeered, stared, and laughed as they watched the unlikely couple share a slow dance, but Michael ignored them. To be honest, he barely noticed them. Samantha didn’t seem to notice either.


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Madison is an aspiring freelance writer who enjoys writing articles, lyrics, stories, and blog posts. She hopes to inspire and make others feel less alone through her writing. You can read her personal ramblings and life insights over at http://journeyofasoulsearcher.blogspot.com/.